Former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Wednesday said he had no involvement in the killings on August 5 last year as he hid inside the Parliament complex throughout the day.
"I want to inform the court that on August 5, I was present in Parliament from 11am. At one point, the Parliament came under attack. I along with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and 12 others, took shelter in a special room. Around 2:30am, the army rescued us from there," Palak said.
The former state minister made the remarks when he was produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka.
He also requested the court to allow interrogations at the jail gate if necessary, noting that he has already been placed on an 86-day remand.
"Since I was in Parliament the entire day, I had no connection to any murder that took place on August 5," he said.
Palak, Shahjahan among 6 accused remanded in murder, other cases
According to police, on August 5 last year, a painter named Abdul Jabbar was murdered in Badda area.
Palak was an accused in the case and investigators say he needs to be remanded for questioning to unearth the motive and details behind the killing.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court granted police three days to interrogate Palak in connection with the murder case.